"Yama-Sato-Umi agroecosystem connectivity" Development and evaluation of environmental conservation technologies for tropical islands through an approach emphasizing Yama-Sato-Umi (Ridge-to-reef agroecosystem) connectivity
Tropical islands are vulnerable to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, and inappropriate land and water use is causing environmental degradation and impacts on the ocean. Specifically, environmental problems such as deforestation of forests and mangroves, soil runoff from agricultural land, and nutrient runoff from chemical fertilizers and animal feed are occurring. As the saying goes, "The forest is the lover of the sea," mountain villages and the sea are closely related through material cycles and human activities. In particular, on islands where the distance from the mountains to the sea is short and continuous, it is necessary to work on mountain villages and seas in an integrated manner.
Objectives
We will develop and demonstrate technologies that contribute to soil runoff control and nutrient load reduction through the appropriate management of environmental resources and effective utilization of biological resources in the mountains, villages and seas, and quantify the environmental conservation effects such as improvement of river water quality on islands by introducing these technologies using a watershed model.
Research Themes
Development of environmental load reduction and resource circulation technologies for mountains, villages and seas of tropical islands
Environmental assessment of nutrients and soils in the watersheds of tropical islands and clarification of the conditions for introducing the technology
Target Countries
Philippines, Japan (Ishigaki Island)
Target Beneficiaries
Agricultural, mountainous and fishing area workers; local residents; people in-charge of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and environmental policies in local governments and agencies
Project Leader
ANZAI Toshihiko (Tropical Agriculture Research Front)
On September 6, 2023, a delegation from the Ishigaki Nature Conservation Office (International Coral Reef Research and Monitoring Center) of the Ministry of the Environment led by Mr. Yamamoto, Senior Nature Conservation Officer and Specialist for the Conservation of Remote Islands and Rare Species, visited the JIRCAS Tropical Agriculture Research Front (Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture) to inspect the research project being conducted by TARF on the development and evaluation of environmental conservation technologies for tropical islands.
Research results published by 12 JIRCAS research staff and others have received four awards (Outstanding Paper Awards and International Contribution Award) from the Japanese Society of Irrigation, Drainage and Rural Engineering (JSIDRE).
The 50th TARF Public Lecture entitled “Agricultural Research that Balances Productivity Improvement and Environmental Protection: How Research Contributes to the Sustainable Development of Agriculture on Ishigaki Island” was held on June 30, 2023 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Ishigaki City Health and Welfare Center.
Tomorrow, October 15, is "Mushroom Day" in Japan. A research project of JIRCAS aims to conserve forests in the Philippines and other tropical islands by increasing their value through the combined cultivation of non-wood forest products such as mushrooms, fruit trees, and valuable tree species in mountain areas where forests have been cut down and soil erosion has occurred.